By Sara Russell, Ph.D., FNTP
Vitamin D is so ubiquitous in today’s healthcare that it has almost become the medical equivalent of Halloween candy. Yes, low levels of the vitamin are connected to an increased incidence of certain illnesses, but is vitamin D depletion a cause of illness or yet another consequence of imbalances in the body? As one incisive article notes, “Some authorities now believe that low 25(OH)D is a consequence of chronic inflammation rather than the cause.”
Nutritional checks and balances
It’s important to understand the interactions of vitamin D with other nutrients. There is, in fact, an ongoing and complex balancing act always playing out in the human body. Vitamin D supplementation may antagonize nutrients such as vitamin A, magnesium, and potassium while potentially favoring an increase in calcium and copper in the body. In turn, increased copper can deplete zinc. Zinc is a crucial mineral for male and female fertility and for the health of sperm and egg cells, as well as for a host of functions in the body.
On a physical level, these hormonal imbalances may manifest as breast tenderness, PMS, menstrual pain and cramping, excessive bleeding and more. Emotionally, these physical symptoms may be accompanied by anxiety, depression, tearfulness, mood swings and even phobias and obsessive thoughts and behaviors. These are consequences of the vicious cycle of estrogen dominance and copper dysregulation, which can perpetuate each other.
Many people with PCOS suffer from a combination of excess copper and estrogen, and it’s common for these women to be deficient in magnesium, zinc, vitamin A and/or potassium. Vitamin D is an important nutrient for PCOS support, but it’s important to individualize nutritional support to the client’s bigger picture.
A deficiency of vitamin A relative to D can cause immune dysfunction (particularly increased risk of viral infections), night blindness and keratosis pilaris, that is, a bumpy rash on the underside of the upper arms. Unfortunately, excess vitamin D can also increase the retention of lead and cadmium, especially in children. So indiscriminate vitamin D supplementation can cause or aggravate certain imbalances in the body. See https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4539504/#B16.
The excess soft-tissue calcium that accumulates as a result of inappropriate vitamin D supplementation may favor the formation of kidney stones, cataracts, gallstones and bone spurs.
There is a time and a place for targeted vitamin supplementation, and there are factors that are not covered in this post (see this excellent overview of the way that each vitamin can affect gene expression). But it isn’t for everyone at all times, and not everyone who tests low on a serum vitamin D test will benefit from supplementation. Please consult with me or another knowledgeable provider to assess whether supplementation is right for you.
Getting out in the fresh air and sunshine is a good habit that will expose you to physiological levels of vitamin D, and your body will definitely know when you’ve gotten enough.
Should I take vitamin D?
One tool for assessing your need for vitamin D within the broader context of your nutrient status is a hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA). This non-invasive and highly affordable test can help assess your individual nutritional needs as well as the potential for rebalancing through an individualized supplement program. Because of vitamin D’s impact on the transport of calcium, magnesium, potassium and copper, HTMA is useful in nutritional assessment and fine-tuning when vitamin D is considered or used.
If you need guidance to assess whether supplementation is right for you, or you want to re-assess your current supplement plan, email me at sara@buildnurturerestore.com to set up an appointment.
Resources for further learning
Books
Rheaume-Bleue, K. Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox.
Thompson and Barnes. The Calcium Lie II.
Cutler, AH, Hair Test Interpretation: Finding Hidden Toxicities. Sammamish, WA, 2004.
Malter, R. The Strands of Health: A Guide to Understanding Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis. Cottonwood, AZ: Educational and Health Resources of Arizona, Inc., 2002.
Articles
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4160567/
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/landia/article/PIIS2213-8587(13)70165-7/abstract
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4539504/#B16
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327793409_Epigenetic_Effects_of_the_13_Vitamins